Ars Biologica

The flagship project of Budweis 2028 connects research and scientific institutions (the Biology Centre in Budweis and the University of South Bohemia) with international artists, local experts (farmers, teachers, architects etc.) and communities to find new understandings of the landscape and solutions to the challenges posed by climate change through dialogue and joint experiments.

Ars Biologica is an environmental project that, as part of the Budweis 2028 program, focuses on the future of the landscape, care for the environment and reflection on the agricultural tradition of South Bohemia, symbolized by the Země Živitelka agricultural exhibition.

Ars Biologica Art & Science Residency 

A residency program supporting collaboration between artists, scientists and the local residents, organized jointly by the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz and the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

Ars Biologica Politics & Discourses

A research platform that connects educators, humanities scholars, curators, artists and other experts with the aim of opening up discussion on the role of the humanities and social sciences in the context of environmental transformation and expected change. The platform is run by a research group for environmental humanities and contemporary history (European Humanities Prague, EHP), which was established at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University.  

As part of the Ars Biologica project, EHP focuses on exploring the relationship between the ideology of growth, landscape, nature conservation, agriculture and the phenomenon of borders. Its goal is to analyze and critically reflect on the language that shaped the concept of nature in its broadest sense, while also preparing outputs that will present these topics in a way that is understandable to the general public.

Ars Biologica Independent Studies (ABIS)

An independent educational program that will enable students of artistic and scientific university disciplines in particular, through study programmes led by Czech and foreign experts, to expand their knowledge and skills in creative interdisciplinary collaboration, focusing on current social and environmental topics using advanced digital tools. The program concept is being developed by the Uroboros platform in collaboration with the Spanish foundation TBA21.

Pilot residency

In June, we are organizing a two-day workshop attended by scientists from the biological center, foreign artists and local farmers to jointly seek solutions to specific challenges of Budweis and the region in the area of blue-green infrastructure, but also agricultural production. The goal will be to establish a functional and sustainable format for cooperation in which the residency program will operate in the coming years.

Summer school

As part of the independent study program (ABIS), a four-day summer school will take place in July and August, to which artists, designers, researchers, scientists, and students interested in transdisciplinary research into permaculture practices and concepts are invited. The program, divided into four thematic areas, offers workshops, lectures and joint research sessions based on permaculture principles such as supporting small and slow solutions, integration instead of segregation, promoting diversity and seeking creative solutions in response to change.

Symposium

As part of this year's largest domestic agricultural exhibition, Země Živitelka, a symposium entitled The Limits of Growth will take place on Sunday, August 24, connecting all three program lines of the Ars Biologica project in an all-day event for professionals and the general public. Expert contributions, an exhibition and an accompanying program will present the results of the creative and research work of the participating teams and also open up space for visitors to think together about the future of our landscape – between the city and nature, between people and their environment.